Improvement in floating-docks



UNITED STATES ATENT FFICE.

G. HERBERT, AND R. F. HUNTING.

IMPROVEMENT IN FLOATING-BOOKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 15?, l57, dated December 8, 1874; application filed October 9, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD MARCUSY, of

' Galveston, State of Texas, have invented an ships and other vessels over bars, or flat or shallows; second, to rescue stranded vessels; third, to raise sunken or submerged ships or vessels; fourth, to rescue vessels disabled or in distress upon the high seas or other bodies of water.

My elliptic dock is constructed of the followlng parts, illustrated in the accompanying drawing as follows:

Figure 1 is a top view, showing the two sides of my dock. Fig. 3 is a cross-section. Fig. 2 1s a side View or elevation; Fig. 4, view of tooth-pad with sliding hook attached; Figs. 5 and 6, views of tooth-pad; Figs. 7 and 8, views of moving lever-foot.

In the drawings, the two sides, A, form each a half ellipse, and, united with the concavities inward and opposite each other, a complete ellipse outwardly and a hollow ellipse inward- 1y, this hollow ellipse being the berth into which vessels are received to be elevated. The sides A are firmly bound together at the bow of the dock by bars a, fastened to each side of the dock by bolts 12, overlapping at their projected ends, through which. are holes, admitting a pin, a, forming a hinge holding all together. These sides are also held together by circular slides cl, fastened on one side with bolts, and located upon the docks deck near the bow.

Each slide passes through a socket, e, and the.

end of each is turned up to form a shoulder, f, to prevent it from sliding entirely through the socket. .Similar to the deck-slides, there will be two other tiers of slides beneath the deck and within the hull. The sterns g are two in number, and each is provided with a rudder, h, for the purpos e not onlyof steering the dock, but for separating the parts of the hull. The stems are bound together by three tiers of sliding bars, *6. At the end of each bar 1s a hole, in which a pin, j, is placed, and attached to the pin is a chain, k, the chain being hooked to a hook, I, in the side of the dock.

At or near the end of the convex sides of the sterns are clasp-locks m on pivots a, which are turned on their pivots, and can be interlocked at will. Each clasp-lock or tooth-beam, when thrown back, rests on shoulders 0. From that side of the dock upon which the upper clasp rests extends a parabolic knee, 1), its outer end fitting in an incision in the upper surface of the upper clasp. On the concavity of each side of the dock, and at the middle thereof, are attached similar clasp-locks, resting on pivots, to be interlocked in strong seas, when the dock is vacant. Under the guard of the dock, on each side, are rollers, as many as may be necessary, to facilitate the process of hoisting. To support the guards powerful hog-chains will extend from the docks bottom along their concave sides, between the rollers, to the guards. The stanchions t, as many as may be necessary, on each side of A, have in their upper extremities three grooves, with grooved wheels 2: playing in each, the middle one the largest, to receive the main chain w. The windlasses B are provided with three apartments, 00, the central one to receive the main chain to, this latter not to be wound on the Windlass, so that, in hoisting, its slack may be taken in. The tWo larger apartments 50 are provided with pins y, protruding from the Windlass, upon which the smaller chains are to be hung. To the stanchions t are attached large hooks 2 on pivots, to hold each chain, when desired. The two smaller chains to pass over the two smaller grooved wheels 1: of the stanchions t, and along down the grooves of the pliant side pads O, and through the two rings 12, and thence under the lower extremity-of the side pads O, and through the rubber keel-beds D, and under and up along the opposite pliant side pad, thus forming a perfect net of chains, pliant side pads, and keel-beds of rubber, or other flexible material, enveloping the vessel to be elevated. There are two chains, 0, extending lengthwise of the dock, connected with the hoisting-chains and keel-beds, to hold them and the side pads in their places. The pliant side pads O are constructed of parts 0 0 c hinged together,

sides of a vessel.

the parts easily adapting themselves to the Upon the back of the side pads O are dovetailed grooves, into which slide hooks, which may be readily adjusted as to height. The toothed side pads E have teeth at or near the lower extremity, and are used, instead of the pliant side pads, principally in wrecking. They are then placed in the position of the pliant side pads, which are mainly used in lightering vessels over shallows. The tooth-pads are attached at the bottom to the wreck by divers, if necessary, and are worked in a manner similar to the pliant side pads. The moving lever-foot H, Figs. 7 and 8, is composed of two parts, the lever F pivoted to the foot or base, and is used in getting off when grounded, by attaching the main or other chain to the upper end of the lever, the foot having been lowered through the guard to the ground, then operating the hoisting machinery until the dock is raised above the surface of the ground, when the lever is turned upon its pivot, carrying forward the dock toward deep water.

To lighter or elevate a vessel, the dock is opened at its stern, and the side pads, chains, and keel-beds lowered sufficiently into the water; the vessel drawn or admitted into the hollow ellipse or berth of the dock; the dock is then closed and clamped, and the vessel elevated by the hoisting machinery, operated by steam, hydraulic, or other power.

1f the vessel is too long to enter wholly the inner space, one end is permitted to protrude, and the dock is still clasped by the long clasplocks m.

I11 operatin the dock, the object always is to get the vessel to be operated upon with in its inner space, and above the net-work of the side pads, chains, and keel-beds, to be subjected to the power of the hoisting machinery.

- Having thus fully described my invention,-

what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A double or duplex dock, provided with a hoisting apparatus, in combination with vertical adjustable side pads, as and for the purpose substantially as set forth.

2. In a duplex dock, the combination, with the hinged parts, of circular slides, bars, and clasp-beams, whereby the parts may be opened and closed, and readily adjusted to vessels of various sizes, substantially as described.

3. In combination with the parts of a duplex dock, the clasp-locks m, constructed and operating substantially as set forth.

4. In combination with the sides of a duplex dock, the two rudders h h, intended to oper; ate conjointly to steer the structure, as a whole, or to be used independently to give a sheer to each ponton, when separated at the stern, as and for the purpose substantially as described.

5. The side pads (J, consisting of a plurality of sections, having grooves and hooks for the hoisting-chains, substantially as described.

6. The combination of the side pads O, flexible keel-beds D, and a hoisting apparatus, substantially as described.

EDWARD MAROUSY. IVitnesses:

It. HOTCHKISS, G. DART. 

